hombre
1 Americannoun
noun
noun
noun
Etymology
Origin of hombre
First recorded in 1830–40; from Spanish, by dissimilation and intrusion of b, from unattested Vulgar Latin omne, for Latin hominem, accusative of homō “man”; see Homo
Explanation
Hombre is an informal way to say "man" or "guy." If your hockey team can't score a single goal thanks to the other team's fearless goalkeeper, you might say, "That goalie is one tough hombre!" In Spanish, hombre means "man." During the 17th century it became a North American slang term for a man of Mexican descent. Later, the word was used more broadly to mean "fellow" or "guy," becoming especially popular during the heyday of Hollywood westerns (one of which was actually titled Hombre). The word takes on an offensive connotation when it's used in a "mock Spanish" context, or to denigrate someone who's Hispanic or Latino.
Vocabulary lists containing hombre
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He even wrote back to the crook: “I told the guy, ‘You just messed with the wrong hombre.’
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
"We have good medical staff then we will see where he is at in the next couple of days. Isaah is a tough hombre."
From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2025
Un hombre de caballo — a man of the horse — in the world of wicking polo shirts and bogeys?
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2024
In one of the most anticipated sequels in the history of the MCU, one that somehow still exists despite the loss of Chadwick Boseman, Huerta is el hombre.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 12, 2022
I don't say anything and Freak is looking at me like he's never seen me before and then Iggy says, "Killer Kane. What a tough hombre he was."
From "Freak The Mighty" by Rodman Philbrick
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
